On Monday, July 22, 2024, the Idaho Supreme Court accepted the resignation of Clinton E. Miner from practicing law in lieu of disciplinary proceedings.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Clinton E. Miner.”
The charges cited Idaho Rules of Professional Conduct 1.2(a), 1.3, 1.4, 1.15(a)(d)(e), and 8.4(c)(d).
Miner, an attorney based in Middleton, Idaho, had represented a married couple, identified as L.G. and J.G., in claims relating to an auto accident in 2018. It was found that Miner violated several rules of professional conduct in his handling of settlement funds from their cases. He failed to properly maintain settlement money owed to his clients in a separate trust account and did not make timely payments as required.
In L.G.’s case, Miner did not adequately negotiate with her healthcare insurer over a subrogation claim for over two years. While some of the money was eventually paid, he failed to communicate the status of keeping the remaining funds in trust. For J.G., notices from Medicare were not addressed, leading his wife to pay a debt instead. Miner also falsely claimed to still be holding a small balance of J.G.’s money in his account.
By resigning, Miner accepted responsibility for violating rules around diligence, communication with clients, handling of client money, and conduct prejudicial to the justice system. He will not be eligible to practice law in Idaho again for at least five years and must prove himself fit if reapplying. The Court’s order removed Miner’s name from records, terminating his right to practice law in the state.
According to avvo.com, Mr. Miner was a workers compensation attorney in Middleton, Idaho. He attended the University of Idaho College of Law, graduating in 1988. He acquired his law license in Idaho in the same year.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
